People Joining Our Church From Other Churches: Does this fulfill the Great Commission?

4 minutes to read

Nearly every church, to some extent, has individuals joining from other churches, except in entirely unreached areas. Regardless of the reasons for their decision to join a particular church, a common question arises: “Does this contribute to biblical growth or align with the fulfilment of the Great Commission?"

The Goal of the Great Commission
Many hold the view that we are only fulfilling the Great Commission when witnessing fresh conversions from other faiths, and anything short of that implies a failure in fulfilling the commission. In this article, I aim to argue that even when individuals join our church from other congregations, we are still actively fulfilling the Great Commission.

What does the Great Commission entail? The Lord Jesus, in commissioning his disciples, declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).

According to our Lord's words, the Great Commission encompasses two crucial aspects. First, there is the act of baptizing new converts who repent of their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a one-time act. Second, there is the ongoing act of teaching them to obey everything Christ commanded. Both components contribute to the fulfilment of the Great Commission.

Fulfilling the Great Commission
So, how do we fulfil the Great Commission when individuals join our church from other congregations?

First, when some people transition to our church from different congregations, they might lack a comprehensive understanding of the biblical gospel and may not have experienced being born again. This is an opportune moment for us to guide them through a biblical comprehension of the gospel, inviting them to genuinely repent of their sins, believe in Christ Jesus, and undergo baptism. Witnessing the regenerating work of the Lord in these individuals' lives brings joy, exemplifying our fulfilment of the Great Commission.

A caution is required when individuals join our church from other congregations: there is a potential misconception that they are already believers. While this might be true in some cases, it's essential to recognize that not everyone who claims to be a believer may be a believer in the biblical sense. It is a prudent practice to assess whether each person joining our church possesses a solid understanding of the gospel and is genuinely a born-again believer.

Secondly, what is the objective of the Great Commission? As the Lord Jesus stated, 'Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.' This commission extends beyond merely informing believers; its essence lies in conforming them to Christ's standards. Christ is not solely interested in people coming to Him; He is passionate to see them becoming like Him. 

The ultimate goal of the Great Commission is not to make converts but to make obedient disciples of Christ Jesus. Mere conversion is futile if it does not lead to growth in obedience to Christ. 

While some churches excel at evangelism and “winning the lost”, they may fall short in the crucial task of making disciples for Christ. Even if soul-winning is underway, the purpose of the Great Commission remains unfulfilled.

Numerous believers experience hindered growth due to the absence of proper biblical discipleship. Key components such as biblical shepherding, soul oversight, equipping the saints for ministry, caring accountability, loving correction, and church discipline and restoration are noticeably lacking in many congregations. Healthy churches, however, actively incorporate and practice these essential biblical principles.

So, when believers join our church from other congregations, it presents a valuable opportunity to disciple them in biblical convictions, character, and ministry in the local church. This involves both public teaching and personal discipleship. In healthy churches, believers experience substantial growth in both obedience and ministry, thereby contributing to the fulfilment of the Great Commission's overarching goal.

Final Words
In this brief article, I have endeavoured to show how the Great Commission is still being fulfilled even when individuals join our church from other congregations. Obedience to the Great Commission lies in practising its principles, as explained above. Otherwise, we fall short of truly fulfilling its mandate.

While our intention, focus, and efforts should not be centred on drawing people away from other churches, we must remain open to receiving them if their transition to our church is based on peaceful grounds and for good purposes.

May Christ continue to build His Church!